Vestibule mat and cleaning system therefor



June 3, 1952 DQLLINGER A 2,599,049

VESTIBULE MAT AND CLEANING SYSTEM THEREFOR Filed July 16, 1947 EX/lfll/ST 4 4 ,sx/musr INVENTOR. 11 LEW/6 L. DOLL/N651? Patented June 3, 1 952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7, VESTIBULE MAT AND CLEANING SYSTEM 7 THEREFOR I Lewis L. Dollinger, Rochester, N. Y. I Application July 16, 1947, Serial No. 761,251

This invention relates to a dust collectin system for buildings.

In public and in other buildings where there is a great deal of trafiic, much dirt is tracked along the balls or aisles thereof. This condition is especially prevalent in stores where it reaches its most aggravating form on rainy days when the mud is tracked along various aisles. This mud when dried becomes dust which accumulates on all surfaces within the store and on the merchandise, thereby presenting a constant cleaning problem and frequently causing the merchandise to become soiled to the point where it must be sold at a sacrifice.

In accordance with the main feature of the present invention, there are provided means for collecting the dirt or mud at the vestibule of the building or store and removing it in the form of dust through a duct leading to a suitable dust accumulator.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, brush-like mats of different degrees of coarseness and texture are provided in the vestibule, the mats covering a grille-like opening leading to a duct through which air is drawn from the vestibule to a suitable dust receptacle and exhaust. By this arrangement the dust or mud on the shoes of the passers-by, is wiped off on these mats and when dry, is withdrawn afrom the vestibule, so that it cannot be tracked through the interior of the building.

In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, exhaust ports which communicate with an exhaust system, are provided at approximately the floor level in the walls of counters and the like to collect dust which has escaped beyond the vestibule.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the detailed description and claims when taken with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the floor of the vestibule of a public building, certain side walls of the vestibule being broken away, together with one display counter which may be repre- 2 Claims. (01. -301 sentative of the numerous display counters, eabistore together with a dust port communicating with an exhaust duct; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing the supporting grille for the severalmats which cover the floor of the vestibule, together with a section through the funnel of the exhaust duct leading therefrom to a discharge point.

In the preferred form of the invention, the major portion of the vestibule V of a building has its usual fioor replaced by a suitable grille 5 or other rigid, perforated support located slightly below the normal floor level. The grille 5 is completely covered by brush-like mats 6, I and 8 on which the mud or dirt can be wiped from the shoes of persons entering. These mats are porous for dust to pass therethrough and comprise bristles or the like to function as brushes. Preferably, the bristles of mat 6 are coarser than those of mat 1, while the bristles of mat I are coarser than those of mat 8. Thus the bristles of the several mats decrease in coarseness from the entrance toward the interior of the building. The grille 5 opens into funnel-shaped collector In which communicates with an exhaust duct II. This duct leads to an exhaust fan (not shown) and thence to a dust filter or receptacle (likewise not shown).

In order to speed the drying of any mud on the mats 6, I and 8, some part or all of the upper surface thereof is exposed to a heated current of air; For this purpose, vents such as IS in the side walls of the vestibule at approximately the upper surface of the mats, communicate with a heat duct I4 through which heated air is forced onto the tops of the mats.

For removing the dirt that escapes past the vestibule, other exhaust ports are provided in the side walls such as in the sides of the counters, display tables and the like. For example, the counter I6 is placed over an opening ll in the floor, which opening leads into a funnel-like collector communicating with the exhaust duct [8. This duct leads to the exhaust fan (not shown). The side wall or walls of the counter are provided adjacent the floor level, with grilled ports l9 which communicate with the exhaust duct [8.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be in the present system without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a system of the class described, a flat stationary openwork support, a flat stationary 3 porous brush mat having bristles decreasing in coarseness from one side thereof to the other, said mat covering said support and serving as the floor of a thoroughfare, and means for drawing air downward through said support and mat.

2. In a system of the class described, a flat stationary openwork support, a fiat stationary porous brush mat having bristles decreasing in coarseness from one side thereof to the other,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number.

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Gawne Nov. 5, 1901 Skowronski Nov. 14, 1911 Dalton Mar. 12, 1912 Szarka Dec. 1, 1914 Cummings Sept. 24, 1918 Parker ;V Nov, 16, 1920 Kehoe Jan. 29, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain 1886 Germany Feb. 11, 1934 France -1 Sept. 7, 1926 

